Zinnia started crying hysterically at the sight of her.
My mom turned around. “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay.” She looked at me. “It’s okay, Lily.”
Damien got into the driver’s seat and grabbed my mom by the hair. He yanked her head back hard.
My real dad banged on the window. Over and over and over. His fists hit the glass so hard I thought it would shatter.
Then Damien drove off, still screaming, still gripping my mom’s hair.
When we got back to the house, Damien dragged my mom inside by her arm.
I had to get Zinnia out of her car seat, but I couldn’t get the buckle to loosen. She was screaming. Thrashing. I was crying and pulling at the plastic clip, but my hands wouldn’t work right.
Then I saw my dad’s car pull up in the driveway behind us.
He stormed toward the house. He didn’t notice me and Zinnia still in the car.
By the time I got her unbuckled, my hands were cramping. I held her against my chest and walked toward the house.
I saw my mom screaming at Damien to stop.
Damien was on top of my dad, beating him. His fists were connecting with his face over and over. But he stopped when I walked into the room.
I kept my eyes on Damien as my mom and dad turned to look at us.
My mom dropped to her knees. “Go to your room. Take Zinni to your room and lock the door. Now, Lily. Now.”
Then I heard the click.
Metal against metal.
Damien was pointing a gun at my mom.
“You don’t get to keep the girls,” he said.
My mom stood slowly. “These are my kids, Damien!”
He shook his head. “They’re my daughters too.” Then he swung the gun toward my dad to keep him from getting closer. “Put your hands up.”
My dad raised his hands.
Damien pointed the gun between them. Back and forth. Like he couldn’t decide who to shoot first.
“Look at you two! Perfect fucking family!”
“In case you don’t remember, Damien,” my mom said carefully, “I’m married to you.”
“And you just want to fuck him behind my back?”
My mom stayed quiet.
Damien laughed. It was sharp. Bitter. “You think I’m so fucking stupid, don’t you? I know you’ve been sleeping with him.”
“Damien,” my mom took a step forward. “Don’t do this.”
“You’ve given me no fucking choice!”
He aimed the gun directly at her chest.
